Thursday, June 4, 2009

DobbySocks and the HP Alliance

The Harry Potter Alliance, a group dedicated to the spirit and messages of the Potter books, and to spreading those into the real world, is having a "What Would Dumbledore Do" event, encouraging members to write blog posts about Dumbledore's philosophy and what we learned from it. I, of course, wrote a play:

DOBBYSOCKS

A very short playBy Dean O’Carroll

Lights up on what appears to be a clothing store devoted entirely to socks.

DOBBY THE HOUSE ELF enters, mesmerized.

DOBBYWhere is Dobby? One moment ago, Dobby was saving Harry Potter from the nasty Mrs. Bellatrix Lestrange and then Dobby felt something sharp and now Dobby is … Dobby is very confused!

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE is there.

DUMBLEDOREAh, hello, Dobby. We have been expecting you.

DOBBYOh, Mr. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore! Dobby is so very pleased to see you! Dobby was so sad when you were killed! Dobby is not worthy to be in the same place with your greatness!

DUMBLEDOREPlease, Dobby, there is no need for that. We are all equals here.

DUMBLEDOREOh, surely you know, Dobby, that I, too, am a lover of socks. When young Harry Potter asked me what I see when I look into the Mirror of Erised, I told him I see my heart’s desire – a good pair of socks.

DOBBYAnd was that true, Mr. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore?

DUMBLEDOREWell, Dobby, I lived a very long life and during that time I made many choices I regret and lost many people that I cherished. So most often when I glimpsed that mirror, I saw myself reunited with those lost people, and opportunities. But on other days – good days -- days when I had no ongoing feud with the Ministry of Magic or the Hogwarts Board, when my battles with Lucius Malfoy had temporarily abated, and when no dark forces threatened my students’ lives, I did indeed see myself with socks.

DOBBYBut surely a great, great man, such as Mr. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, must have more important desires! Surely something so simple as socks, which make Dobby so happy, cannot mean so much to you!

DUMBLEDOREBut don’t you see, Dobby, how truly powerful tiny things can be? Was it not a simple sock that set you free? And now, years later, has not that freedom allowed you to save Harry Potter’s life? Think of the tiny things and little pleasures that have played so great a role in this tale of which we have been a part – a locket, a stone, a diary … a treacle tart.

DUMBLEDOREYou see? Imagine a boy of his age with the burdens he bears. How could he ever be expected to take pleasure in anything? Yet, for those few, fleeting moments between lips and stomach, a treacle tart brings him joy and the strength to continue. Little pleasures, Dobby, the smallest things are what keep us going, and allow us to carry on. I’m certain I would never have discovered the twelve uses for Dragon’s Blood if I hadn’t fortified my pockets with sherbet lemons and acid pops. And I know I never would have defeated Gellert Grindelwald if I weren’t wearing a truly stupendous pair of socks that day.

DOBBY… Socks.

DUMBLEDORE… Socks.

DOBBYWould Mr. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore like to try on socks with Dobby?